Cholesterol, corneal lipidosis, and xanthomatosis in amphibians.

Many captive amphibians have high serum or plasma cholesterol and concomittant lesions such as corneal lipidosis and xanthomas. The underlying cause of this disorder is unknown, but it is likely that a diet high in cholesterol plays a role. The metabolism of lipids in healthy amphibians remains poorly documented, which makes it challenging to interpret the findings in affected specimens. Affected amphibians should be maintained on a low-cholesterol diet and fed sparingly, and their captive environment modified to provide an optimal temperature gradient for thermoregulation.